Nicotine withdrawal is a term used to describe when a person, who is nicotine dependent, suddenly stops smoking cigarettes or significantly reduces their nicotine intake. This can lead to the person becoming irritable; craving cigarettes and suffering from intense headaches. Persons who have smoked a higher number of cigarettes or for a longer period are more likely to experience these symptoms, although almost all people who try to ‘kick the habit’ suffer some form of withdrawal symptoms from the drug.

When regular smokers quit they often have strong cravings when they are placed in a situations where they are used to smoking e.g. first thing in the morning or on their mid morning coffee break. The most common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are; impaired concentration, irritability, tension, disturbed sleep or drowsiness, intense longing for a cigarette/nicotine, headaches and an increased appetite leading to weight gain. Sometimes people can experience nicotine withdrawal when cutting down to light cigarettes or cutting down the number smoked.